New college graduates see improving job market

Many seniors are thinking about employment as graduation ceremonies kick off Tuesday for many of the colleges on the UT campus.

Luckily for those students, a number of surveys show the odds of snagging a job for the Class of 2013 are a bit better than they were for previous classes.

Nearly half the respondents to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers said they planned to hire more new graduates from this class than they did from the Class of 2012. A study by CareerBuilder.com also found this year's jobs market to be stronger.

UT Career Services Director Russ Coughenour said the market is recovering from the financial crisis of 2008.

"I think employer orders and service industry sector jobs, manufacturing are simply busier than its been since 2008 and typically that will play out in the amount of energy there is in the entry level market," he said.

Senior Kristen Kerr said she's already landed a paid internship in Memphis. She said she interviewed for the position earlier in the school year.

"I just felt like it was a good job opportunity for the future," Kerr said.

And, Coughenour said early preparation is key.

He said students typically will not get an offer until 6 to 8 months after they begin to get serious about finding a job.

"That's why it's so critical for a May graduate to actually start the prior September with their job search," Coughenour said.